Free Visit to Father Christmas!

greenishfingers

Hi there

Firstly apologies that this is for London. If anyone can recommend Father Christmas's in other parts of the country then maybe they could post them after this? I'm sure it would be appreciated.

Anyway, the father Christmas at Harrods is utterly fab. Here are the reasons why:
1) It's completely free.
2) You get a gift (this year it's the book 'How The Reindeer Got Their Antlers') and a badge.
3) Whilst you are waiting in the queue you get offered bottles of mineral water, gingerbread men and lollies to eat, and they are very laid back about how many you can have (when I arrived they gave me half a dozen for lining up)
4) They have more than 1 Santa, to stop the queue from getting completely ridiculous (I think there are about 5 this year, but don't tell the kids!)

If you are thinking of going, they said today that Tuesday and Wednesday are their quiet days. I would also recommend going with a friend, so that one of you can wait in the queue whilst the other goes wondering off with kids and vice versa, to try and put an end to boredom etc. The wait wasn't short, although it was less than the staff predicted (1 hour instead of 1 and a half)

Hope this helps! :j :j :j

loopy_lou_5

Thanks for the info, btw do you know if you can take pictures or do they charge for this?

Thanks again :xmassign:

dobbiesloan

Wow thanks for this I love gingerbdead men and lollies. Do they have any adult only days?

greenishfingers

They charge for photos - 9.95 for an A4 sized sheet. You can either get 1, 4 or 8 photos on the sheet depending on what you prefer. Last year I went with a friend and we split the cost between us for the 4 photo sheet.

Didn't see any signs for adults only days!!! Maybe you could suggest to someone else (with a child) that you tag along with them?!!

sarahdh

I went with my baby son and it's fantastic. I also got a badge (as did my mother and aunty!).

The gingerbread men are delicious!

I bought the pics but I think they would have let u take pics of your own too.

:rudolf:

melliott1963

We've taken our kids the last few years.

Just a word of advice. If you go at the weekend, be prepared for a very long wait - I'm talking 3 or 4 hours! We went a couple of years ago and got to the store about 5 minutes after opening and the queue was horrendous.

Last year, however, we took the kids in the evening and virtually walked right in. Am doing the same tomorrow night.

Hey! why am I telling you this? Now everyone will go in the evening and I'll have to queue again! :snow_grin

I have to say it's one of the best Father Christmas's we've taken the kids to, and the fact it's free is even better. You don't just get to see Santa. Once you get in, there's a long corridor and an 'Elf' takes small groups at a time and tells a story which the kids love, complete with animated scenes along the way.

tattooed_lady

Wow, thanks OP, will see if I can get up there maybe tomorrow??

greenishfingers

Just a word of warning - there is no corridor with elves this year, just the queue. I think there is some entertainment of the all singing all dancing variety, but we got there at lunchtime so they were obviously off eating their sandwiches or something...

However they are showing The Snowman on a loop and playing loud Christmas music all the while, and overall I had a great time (obviously my daughter did too!)

Have great time if you do go!

:xmastree: :snow_laug :santa2: :xmastree: :xmassign: :snow_laug :xmastree:

melliott1963

Well, we went last night. It definitely isn't as good as previous years. The entertainment wasn't there when we went either, just an empty stage. Hmmmm wonder if they ever turn up, or maybe it's only at the weekends? They also only had water available and a basket of crumbs!

The queue wasn't too big, but we still had to wait about an hour - I don't know if the Santa's were in short supply last night! Also, the Santa we saw appeared to be younger than me, and I'm only 42!

Having said that, once the kids got in, there was no rush and Santa spent quite a bit of time talking to everyone. The books and badges are just as good as previous years. Also, when they took the photo, we were able to see it on a screen and, as it wasn't too good, they took another one which was excellent.

So, to sum up. Not as good as previous years, but still worth going.

KizzyK_2

melliott1963 wrote:

So, to sum up. Not as good as previous years, but still worth going.

The employment brief this year was focused on customer service and till work rather than the ability to entertain which I through was a shame.

royalsteve

melliott1963 wrote:

Well, we went last night. It definitely isn't as good as previous years. The entertainment wasn't there when we went either, just an empty stage. Hmmmm wonder if they ever turn up, or maybe it's only at the weekends? They also only had water available and a basket of crumbs!

The queue wasn't too big, but we still had to wait about an hour - I don't know if the Santa's were in short supply last night! Also, the Santa we saw appeared to be younger than me, and I'm only 42!

Having said that, once the kids got in, there was no rush and Santa spent quite a bit of time talking to everyone. The books and badges are just as good as previous years. Also, when they took the photo, we were able to see it on a screen and, as it wasn't too good, they took another one which was excellent.

So, to sum up. Not as good as previous years, but still worth going.

Blimey...its free for fs...what do you expect for nothing....champagne....caviar..some people are so ungrateful